Another Tired Chain E-Mail: Cell Phones Go Public This Month

It’s A HOAX:

from SNOPES.com 

“Washington, DC -- For several years there has been a rumor circulating, mostly by e-mail, that a nationwide directory of cell phone numbers will be made available to telemarketers, and that consumers will start receiving telemarketing calls on their cell phones.
There is no truth to this rumor. Cell phone numbers are not being released to telemarketers, and you will not soon be getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone. FCC rules prohibit the use of auto dialers and prerecorded messages to call cell phones without the consumer’s consent.
Thus, most telemarketers are barred from contacting consumers on their cell phones.”  source:  News Media Information FCC

Usually the phone number for calling the “Do not call list” is legitimate, so why does this hoax get perpetrated [circulating and updating since at least 2004]? Read my articles on “Spam & E-Mail Hoaxes”

Sources & References:

• FTC FACTS for Consumers 
• National Do Not Call Registry 
• Q&A: The National Do Not Call Registry 
• FCC: Consumer Information

Glenn Littrell

 

The above was in response to the following e-mail:

 

----- Original Message -----REMEMBER THIS IS A HOAX-----

Cell Phones Go Public This Month:
Opt Out Information
all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls.
YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone:
888-382-1222.
It is the National DO NOT CALL list -It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number.
HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON. 
It takes about 20 seconds